More French trains to compete in Spain

The French and Spanish mutual rail invasion is taking another step with French low-cost operator Ouigo extending its high-speed operations deeper into Spain, with a clutch of new routes into the southern regions of Andalusia and Murcia.

The French expansion, under EU rules allowing open competition on national rail systems, are matched by a series of moves by Spain's RENFE into routes that extend well into France, including Paris and Lyon, with ambitions for service through the Channel Tunnel eventually.

The new Ouigo routes will primarily target Seville, Cordoba, Malaga and the city of Murcia itself, connecting them to Madrid, and through Madrid to points north. These connections come only months after extensions into Valladolid and Segovia.